UofM vs Northwestern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The idea that the engineering instruction at UMichigan is unequivocally better and somehow significantly superior than Northwestern is so misleading. Consider costs, of course, but at this level, the individual pros/cons of each school. Private/public, size of classes, research opportunities, post-grad opportunities and goals, et cetera.

There have got to be a bunch of Michigan parents on this board, it's getting ridiculous.

Perhaps it’s just ridiculous that so many here lump Michigan with other state schools. Nobody is saying that U-M is significantly better than NU, it’s just that too many posters are saying that NU is better simply because it’s a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michigan 100%

Obvious troll post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is choosing between Northwestern vs Cornell engineering. About 400 enrolled first year engineering at Norhwestern vs 850 enrolled first year engineering at Cornell. I did my undergrad at UCLA in engineering. Classes are enormous and you are essentially a number that pays tuition. Hard to get research opportunities with professors. Most students eventually change major to traditional science or non stem because of the rigor. Going to private might give student opportunity to actually survive and finish the degree with professors help unlike in giant universities.

UC schools are known to be overcrowded. Just because you had a less than desirable experience at your public, doesn't mean it happens at all other publics.

Michigan is #16 in best undergraduate teaching at USNWR.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching

Berkeley #62

UCLA is ranked even lower. So is Northwestern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say my kid is going to UMich and the undergrad math education is very tough. Majors have high math requirements and many students try and take math at community colleges to avoid the first two years of math—through linear algebra.

My kid is busy taking Nova CC classes to beef up on math.

If your kid is weak in math I would be careful about UMich.

Michigan math is unexceptional. Historically, the best math faculty has always been at Wisconsin. Walter Rudin, Stanislaw Ulam, R.H Bing were all members of the faculty.

It’s the Wisconsin booster again talking last century. Let’s see what USNWR has to say about Michigan mathematics:

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/mathematics-rankings

Michigan. #11

Wisconsin #16

Just another discipline where Michigan bests Wisconsin.

More results:

https://edurank.org/math/us/

Michigan #3

Wisconsin #14

I could go on and on, but it won’t change results.

Are those really all that different in ranking? They seem close enough to be equal. Also, completely off topic. However I will say, as an academic myself, that Wisconsin without a doubt has had very impactful departments, and it is generally regarded that Wisconsin is better for most "standard subjects". However, I believe Michigan is better for professional schools, like law. The fact that Michigan seems to struggle in hiring important professors shows some issue in their academic culture, I've personally heard they have a toxic culture among their PHD students in many subjects. Look at Brian Leiter's reports for referencing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that the engineering instruction at UMichigan is unequivocally better and somehow significantly superior than Northwestern is so misleading. Consider costs, of course, but at this level, the individual pros/cons of each school. Private/public, size of classes, research opportunities, post-grad opportunities and goals, et cetera.

There have got to be a bunch of Michigan parents on this board, it's getting ridiculous.

Perhaps it’s just ridiculous that so many here lump Michigan with other state schools. Nobody is saying that U-M is significantly better than NU, it’s just that too many posters are saying that NU is better simply because it’s a private school.

I went to Michigan. My extended family collectively holds about 9 Michigan degrees. Northwestern is largely considered the better school, even in Michigan and among Michigan alumni.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Michigan 100%

Obvious troll post

No. The engineering school is world class and the poster is in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which would you pick? Worth noting: student is in-state for Michigan tuition,
Majoring in engineering

Your in state so you know what you're getting with U of M. I'd go with Michigan and then to MIT/Caltech for grad school with all the money you saved.

lol, you say it like it's just a matter of paying tuition

It is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which would you pick? Worth noting: student is in-state for Michigan tuition,
Majoring in engineering

If in-state, easily Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Michigan is ranked #7 for engineering.
Northwestern is ranked #17.

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/eng-rankings

Michigan's international reputation ranking is #18, Northwesterns is #44

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/reputation-ranking?page=1#

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say my kid is going to UMich and the undergrad math education is very tough. Majors have high math requirements and many students try and take math at community colleges to avoid the first two years of math—through linear algebra.

My kid is busy taking Nova CC classes to beef up on math.

If your kid is weak in math I would be careful about UMich.

Michigan math is unexceptional. Historically, the best math faculty has always been at Wisconsin. Walter Rudin, Stanislaw Ulam, R.H Bing were all members of the faculty.

It’s the Wisconsin booster again talking last century. Let’s see what USNWR has to say about Michigan mathematics:

https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/mathematics-rankings

Michigan. #11

Wisconsin #16

Just another discipline where Michigan bests Wisconsin.

More results:

https://edurank.org/math/us/

Michigan #3

Wisconsin #14

I could go on and on, but it won’t change results.

Are those really all that different in ranking? They seem close enough to be equal. Also, completely off topic. However I will say, as an academic myself, that Wisconsin without a doubt has had very impactful departments, and it is generally regarded that Wisconsin is better for most "standard subjects". However, I believe Michigan is better for professional schools, like law. The fact that Michigan seems to struggle in hiring important professors shows some issue in their academic culture, I've personally heard they have a toxic culture among their PHD students in many subjects. Look at Brian Leiter's reports for referencing.

So you’re now responding to your original post disparaging Michigan that said it’s unexceptional in mathematics. Now you’re saying both schools are pretty much equal, with the caveat they’re really not and Wisconsin is better. Not convincing. Whenever I check out ratings, I don’t see Wisconsin ranked higher than Michigan in the vast majority of comparable disciplines. There is no doubt that Michigan is better for “professional” education by the way. That is completely obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that the engineering instruction at UMichigan is unequivocally better and somehow significantly superior than Northwestern is so misleading. Consider costs, of course, but at this level, the individual pros/cons of each school. Private/public, size of classes, research opportunities, post-grad opportunities and goals, et cetera.

There have got to be a bunch of Michigan parents on this board, it's getting ridiculous.

Perhaps it’s just ridiculous that so many here lump Michigan with other state schools. Nobody is saying that U-M is significantly better than NU, it’s just that too many posters are saying that NU is better simply because it’s a private school.

I went to Michigan. My extended family collectively holds about 9 Michigan degrees. Northwestern is largely considered the better school, even in Michigan and among Michigan alumni.

I know plenty of Michigan alumni who would disagree with your statement. I am from Michigan originally by the way.

[Anonymous]

It’s fascinating, Michigan’s reputation seems to be markedly stronger here in DC than back home in Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fascinating, Michigan’s reputation seems to be markedly stronger here in DC than back home in Michigan.

That’s because most midwesterners aren’t elitist prestige freaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fascinating, Michigan’s reputation seems to be markedly stronger here in DC than back home in Michigan.

That’s because most midwesterners aren’t elitist prestige freaks.

Maybe. I just don’t know anyone who would consider Michigan more prestigious than Northwestern back home in the Midwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s fascinating, Michigan’s reputation seems to be markedly stronger here in DC than back home in Michigan.

That’s because most midwesterners aren’t elitist prestige freaks.

Maybe. I just don’t know anyone who would consider Michigan more prestigious than Northwestern back home in the Midwest.

That’s not the point. The point is that for Engineering, Michigan is easily a peer of Northwestern. For instate pricing, Michigan is the best choice between these two.